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States Turn Up Heat on Craigslist Sex Postings

South Carolina threatens criminal prosecution of CEO Buckmaster

By Truman Lewis
ConsumerAffairs.com

May 6, 2009

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal met with Craigslist executives yesterday and said he "urged the site to swiftly shut down the online brothel operating from its pages." South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster called on Craigslist founder and CEO Jim Buckmaster to clean up the site or face possible criminal prosecution.

In a blog post, Buckmaster said the meeting in New York was "cordial and productive" and said he had provided "evidence of the huge strides that have been made" since last November, when 43 states pressed for stronger action.

"Although the progress has been dramatic, craigslist has continued to develop further improvements, some of which have been introduced in the last two weeks," Buckmaster said.

But Blumenthal, who previously led the coalition of 43 states demanding the site crack down on off-color content, said its efforts so far have fallen short.

"My ongoing investigation recently tested craigslist's self-policing system — flagging for removal ads featuring hardcore pornography, nudity and obvious offers of sex for money. Almost none of the ads were removed, indicating that craigslist's self-policing is inadequate and ineffective.

"Craigslist's failure to adequately address illegal activity and inappropriate images is unacceptable. In our meeting today, we restated the pressing need to remove all prostitution ads and pornography, as well as halt other illicit activity. Our proposals include elimination of the erotic services section, image blocking to expunge pornographic and naked photos throughout the site and swift removal of ads flagged and confirmed as violating craigslist's terms of service," Blumenthal said.

McMaster said it "appears that the management of Craigslist has knowingly allowed the site to be used for illegal and unlawful activity after warnings from law enforcement officials and after an agreement with 40 state attorneys general." He gave Craigslist until May 15 to take down sex-related postings from its South Carolina sites and said he may prosecute if the deadline isn't met.

McMaster noted that his South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has arrested more than 150 people suspected of soliciting children for sex over the Internet and cited the recent murder of a New York City woman who had advertised massage services on Craigslist. A Boston medical student has been charged in that case and is suspected in other incidents involving women who had advertised on the site.

Enormous asset

"Craigslist is an enormous asset, providing a powerful means for consumers to buy and sell items, as well as interact," Blumenthal said. "These ads -- a tiny fraction of the site -- threaten to overshadow and undermine the site's overwhelmingly positive impact."

"Craigslist must banish virtual streetwalkers and pornography. If the site fails to act, we must consider additional measures, including possible legal action, to protect children and the public," he said.

"We share the AG’s interest in minimizing misuse of craigslist. We’re optimistic this goal can be reached while preserving all beneficial aspects of a site relied upon by tens of millions of Americans, and without compromising the quintessentially American values of free speech embodied in our Constitution," Buckmaster said in his blog.

The attorneys general of Illinois and Missouri also attended the New York meeting.

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